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Answer:
Mr President,
In the early 1980's, the Housing Department carried out an investigation into the structural safety of all public housing blocks built before 1981. Concrete samples were taken from 836 blocks for testing. 411 were found to have average concrete strength although they did not comply with the original design requirement. Salt levels in walls were generally deemed acceptable at the time of construction, but salt levels in floor slabs were particularly high, which might have been partly the result of floor washing with sea water in those days.
Of the 411 blocks mentioned above, 26 were demolished for early redevelopment. They were not dangerous structurally, but re-strengthening work would not have been cost-effective. The blocks were located in Kwai Fong, Kwai Hing, Kwai Shing East, Lam Tin, Pak Tin, Shek Lei 1, Sau Mau Ping 1, Shek Pai Wan, Tsz Man, Tsz Oi and Wong Chuk Hang estates.
The Housing Department investigated into the responsibility of 25 contractors involved in building the 411 sub-standard blocks concerned. It was not possible to take civil action against contracts exceeding the 12-year statutory limit. For contractors whose contracts fell within the 12-year limit, seven were identified as being liable for civil action in relation to their performance in building 25 sub-standard blocks. Successful claims were made against four of these, and a total of about $19 million was recovered. In the other three cases, one contractor was in liquidation, another one was in the process of liquidation, and action against the third one had to be dropped when it was found that the liability time limit of six years for that particular contract had expired.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption took prosecution action in 11 cases where there was prima facie evidence of corruption. Seven of the accused were civil servants at the time of the alleged offences; the remaining four were employed in the construction industry.
End/Wednesday, July 5, 1995